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Is it worth it to change your own transmission fluid?

Is it necessary to incur the cost to change transmission fluid at the intervals recommended by your car's manufacturer? The answer is a yes — both to keep your car running smoothly and to avoid the more costly bill of having to replace a transmission that has been ruined by bad fluid. This is true for both transmission fluid types although for different reasons. The fluid present in an automatic car degrades because it is subject to high heat, and manual transmission fluid collects fine metal shavings from the the bearings, gears and synchronizers over time.

If you're concerned about saving money, you may be asking yourself is it hard to change your transmission fluid or can you do it yourself? This depends on your tolerance for how long it takes, which is different for every type of vehicle, and whether you're up for a dirty job. Removing the pan and drain plugs if necessary and dealing with the old, dirty fluid can be very messy. Also, making sure you do the job properly is vital to the engine's functioning. The amount you can save doing it yourself has to be weighed against all of these factors.

Doing it at home might mean multiple trips to the store

While changing your own transmission fluid may seem like a matter of simply following the steps, it can be more complicated than you think. It's not one size fits all. There are a number of different transmission fluid types to choose from, and you'll also need to replace the filter. The exact kind of parts you'll need varies depending on the make and model of your car.

In addition, you may want to select a fluid that is specific to the type of performance you expect from your car.

Trusting the transmission experts

As with any do-it-yourself project, you have weigh the time and energy it takes to do a job you're not trained for against the savings you can expect. Unless you have all of the appropriate tools, a large open space to work, and the confidence to do it, the effort it takes to change your own transmission fluid may not be worth it.

Fortunately, the certified technicians at the TransMasters transmission shop in San Diego have both the training and experience to take care of the job for you. We're committed to excellent quality workmanship, quick turn-arounds, and charging a fair price. Call or stop by today, and let our expert mechanics take care of your car.

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